Leinster and Ireland duo Jamie Heaslip and Seán O’Brien near return from injury

Heaslip has undergone two bouts of surgery on a lower-back injurySTU FORSTER/GETTY IMAGES

Jamie Heaslip and Seán O’Brien could give Leinster a double European boost by returning to action in the next two months.

O’Brien, the flanker, has been pencilled in for a return against Scarlets in the Guinness Pro14 on March 3, when he could also prove his fitness to Joe Schmidt, the Ireland head coach, before the following weekend’s NatWest Six Nations clash with Scotland at the Aviva Stadium.

That would be O’Brien’s first taste of action since injuring his hip in December, but Heaslip’s return has taken a lot longer. Should the No 8 feature against Ospreys on March 24, it would mean almost 54 weeks have passed since he last played — for Ireland against Wales in last year’s Six Nations.